Lamp base



Jan. 21, 1958 G. POSEY LAMP BASE Filed May 25, 1:955 F- 5 m N 6 k m w mp a. .w 7 ZYI .8 A W a /5 {m 4 a United States Patent LAMP BASE Alice G. Posey, White Plains, N. Y. Application May 25, 1955, Serial No. 511,055

4- Claims. (Cl. 240-81) This invention relates to lamps and more particularly, to a new and improved lamp base.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lamp base in which the appearance of the surface which is exposed to view may be easily changed by the replacement of a covering material, which may be selected to conform to the decor of the room in which the lamp base is to be used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lamp base which is virtually non-breakable and can withstand considerable handling and dropping so that it may be used in rooms where there is activity, as for instance, childrens rooms, rumpus rooms, etc., where the likelihood of breakage is greatest and the resulting breakage may result in injury to the occupants.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lamp base which is simple in construction and design and at the same time is attractive and has considerable appeal.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of a removable sleeve on the rigid support comprising the lamp base which may be readily removed and replaced by other material depending upon the decorative effect desired.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the lamp base with some of the parts broken away to reveal the underlying structure thereof.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the decorative fabric sleeve which encompasses the outer surface of the lamp base.

Referring now to Figure l, the lamp base as shown includes a substantially, rigid, hollow cylindrical member 11 which may be made of any material such as wood, plastic or metal.

In order to minimize the damage to the lamp structure and to reduce the probability of injury therefrom in the event the lamp is displaced from its support or dropped, the cylinder 11 may have adhered on its outer surface a layer of resilient material 12, as for example sponge rubber, to completely cover the outer circumference of the cylinder. The cylinder 11 with or without a layer of resilient material 12 is designated herein as a body portion 11a.

In accordance with the present invention the body portion 11a is provided with a flexible fabric sleeve 13 which is open at both ends to permit easy fitting on and removal from the body portion. The sleeve 13 as shown in Fig. 3 is made from any suitable strip of textile or synthetic fabric material cut to conform substantially with the axial and circumferential dimensions of the body portion 11a and thereafter is sewn together along the median portions of the free edges to form a sleeve leaving the end portions of the free edges adjacent the openings un- 2,820,886 lfj atented Jan. 21, 1958 2 attached, as shown. The ends are provided with a hem 14a into which a drawstring 14 is inserted.

The type or design of material used to form the sleeve may be chosen to conform with or enhance the appearance of the room in which the lamp is to be used. Thus, for example, if the lamp is to be used in a childrens room a washable fabric having a childrens design thereon may be utilized or in the event it is later decided to use the lamp in a rumpus room, the sleeve having the chil' drens design may be replaced with another fabric sleeve having a different texture or design material thereon.

The top of the body portion is provided with a rigid cap 15 having flanges 16 extending downwardly and firmly engaging the fabric sleeve and pressing it against the body portion 11a. The flanges, if desired, may be scrolled or provided with a painted decorative design to improve the appearance of the completed lamp. It is, of course, to be understood that the function of the flange 16 on the cap is to aid in retaining the fabric in position on the body portion 11a.

On the bottom of the body portion 11a there is provided a base member 17 of any suitable configuration having a flange 18 extending upwardly which also firmly engages the fabric sleeve and assists in holding the fabric in position. As in the cap member described above, the flange 18 on the base may be provided with any particular design desired.

The cap and base members, 18 and 17 respectively, are held in assembled position with the body portion 11:: by means of a conduit 19 which extends axially through the cylinder 11 with its ends projecting through the aligned openings 20 and 21 provided in the cap and base, respectively. The conduit has detachably secured at its upper end a lamp socket 22 engageable with the cap 15 and at its lower threaded end a nut 23 engageable with the base 17. The wire 19a leading to the lamp socket may extend through an opening 24 provided in the base 17.

Under some circumstances, depending upon the stretchability of the fabric,.-it may be necessary to provide means for assuring that the fabric sleeve remains in snug engagement with the body portion through its axial length. For this purpose, as shown, there are provided a plurality of axially extending and radially spaced metal strips 25 seated in indentations 26 provided in the flanges 16 and 18 of the cap and base members, respectively. The number and particular shape of the metallic strips may be varied depending upon the need and the ultimate eifect desired. These strips may easily be made and insorted by a home craftsman. If desired, the metallic strips may be omitted and/or replaced by fastening members, such as tacks, to hold the fabric in position. The fastening members may be positioned and located around the periphery to achieve any desired design effect.

In assembling the device as described above, the sleeve 13 is slipped over the outer layer of sponge rubber 12 on the cylinder 11 and the drawstrings 14 of the sleeve 13 tautened whereby the end portions of the sleeve substantially overlie the sponge rubber, as shown. The cap and base members are applied to the body portion 11a having the sleeve covering material thereon so that the flanges 16 and 18 snugly engage the sleeve along part of the axial length thereof with the indentations 26 in the flanges 16 and 18 in paired alignment and at least one pair aligning with the seam on the fabric sleeve. The metal strips 25 are then inserted into the aligned indentations with at least one of the strips covering the seam to hide the latter and thereby assuring a more pleasing appearance. The conduit is thereafter inserted through the openings 20 and 21 and the lamp socket securely fastened to the upper end. The nut 23 on the threaded aszas'se end of theconduit is tightened todraw the lamp socketdownwardly, and accordingly, the cap and base 17 into firm engagement with the body portion 11a.

From the foregoing description, it can be readily seen that the lamp base of the present invention is'of simple design and economical to produce. For that matter, all of the component parts may be made by the'horne craftsman, or may be made by a manufacturer and sold indisassembled form, and the ultimate user may assemble the base.

Furthermore, it is evident that lamps having a lamp base made according to the present invention will have greater utility in a household. Ordinarily; a lamp is selected for' its particular design to achieve the efiect desired in the room in which it is to be used, and therefore, it is ordinarily limited to this room. If the room is redecorated or if thelamp is used in another room, the permanent designs on the lamp are not suitable, and oftentimes, the lamp is discarded. With a lamp made according to the present invention; this waste is eliminated since the average housewife can readily change the appearance 7 of the lamp by simply replacing the fabric sleeve as described above with another sleeve made by her according to herparticular tastes.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim-:

1. As a new article of manufacture, an electric lamp base comprising a rigid hollow body portion having a resilient pad-like cover moreover, a removable sleeve of stretchable fabric snugly fitting over said pad-like member; flanged cap and base members removably secured to the top: and bottom of said body portion, respectively, whereby the flanges firmly press the assembly of said fabric sleeve and pad and retain the assembly in position on said body portion; aligned openings insaid cap and base; and conduit means extending through said openings, said conduit having a lamp socket connected to the upper end thereof and means securing said cap and base members to said body portion.

2'. The invention as defined inclaim I in which said fabric sleeve is provided with drawstrings at its upper and lower ends to initially secure the sleeve snugly to th exterior of the body portiom t 3. As a new article of manufacture, an electric lamp base comprising a rigid hollow cylindrical standard having an outer layer of resilient material; a removable fabric sleeve snugly fitting thereover and detachably secured thereon; flanged cap and base members removably secured to the top and bottom of said cylinder with the flanges firmly pressing said fabric sleeve against said outer layer and retaining the latter in position on said cylinder; aligned openings in said cap and base; conduit meanstextending through-said openings, said conduit having a'lamp socket connected to the upper end thereof and means securing said cap and base members to said cylinder; a plurality of metal strips arcuately spaced around said cylinder engaging said fabric. a

4. As a new article of manufacture, a lamp base comprising a rigid hollow cylindrical standard having an outer. layer of resilient sponge rubber padding; a removable, fabric sleeve: snugly fitting thereovemiflanged cap and base members removablysecured to the top and bottomof said cylinder whereby the flanges firmly press said fabric sleeve against said padding 'and retain the latter in position on said cylinder; aligned openings in said cap and base; and conduit means extending through said openings, said conduit having a lamp socket connected to the upper end thereof and means securing said cap and base members to said cylinder. 5

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 251,952 Royle Jan. 3,, 1882 1,269,276 Harris June 1 1,, 1918 1,284,308 Gathercoal Nov; 12,1918 1,544,886 Bryce July; 7, 1925-. 1,770,581 Paul]; July 15, 1930 1,950,082 Farr Mai-.16, 1934; 2,142,301 Buchhalter' Ian. 3, 1939 2,171,835 Mackie Sept. 5,. 1939 2,629,953 Stackleberg Mar. 3,, 19:53" 2,685,024 Jarvis July 27, 1954 

